Missourian awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in combat

Maryville Daily Forum report

Tuesday

Jun 26, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 26, 2007 at 3:28 AM

Sgt. Alexander Johnston, a Missouri National Guardsman, received the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Flying Cross medal for distinguishing himself in combat by heroism while participating in an aerial flight. Johnston is one of few enlisted soldiers having received this prestigious award, as it is primarily given to flight officers. Only seven of the Army’s 41 medals rank higher than the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Sgt. Alexander Johnston, a Missouri National Guardsman, received the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Flying Cross medal for distinguishing himself in combat by heroism while participating in an aerial flight. Johnston is one of few enlisted soldiers having received this prestigious award, as it is primarily given to flight officers. Only seven of the Army’s 41 medals rank higher than the Distinguished Flying Cross.

According to Johnston, a flight engineer for the fixed-wing C-23 Sherpa aircraft, his mission on Jan. 4, 2007, hauling passengers and cargo from Balad to Tikrit, Iraq, began as any other mission. It was about 7 a.m., the air was a cool 50 degrees and the wind was calm. As part of his duties, Johnston had loaded and secured the cargo, and briefed the passengers on aircraft specifics including flight altitude, threats, emergency procedures and survival equipment.

Johnston said that take-off during the flight was uneventful. Then, 25 miles west of Balad, co-pilot Chief Warrant Officer Brett Krass spied a seemingly friendly Iraqi standing on his truck feverishly waving as the C-23 flew over at an altitude of 100 feet. Unbeknownst to the crew, what waited 25 meters ahead was an insurgent who was armed with a machine gun that would end up striking the slow-moving aircraft 18 times.

“It sounded like M-80 fire crackers going off. I thought to myself, ‘This is bad,’ then I just reacted,” Johnston said. “I noticed one of the passengers in the back had been hit. Another crewmember, Capt. Matt Sheppard, a flight surgeon helped me position him on the floor.

“I went back to the cockpit and removed Krass from his seat, placing him in the cabin with the flight surgeon. Krass suffered injuries to his leg, feet and hands.”

Johnston returned to the cockpit a second time, positioning himself in the co-pilot seat, trying to assist pilot Chief Warrant Officer Terry Lee. Johnston scanned the area for traffic and additional insurgents, helped Lee monitor gauges and, upon landing, assisted with steering the aircraft.

Departing the aircraft, Johnston noticed that Lee’s flight suit leg was soaked in blood; he, too, had been injured by the attack.

“Lee is a great pilot. If it would not have been for him, we would have inevitably lost control of the aircraft,” Johnston said.

Respectful of Krass, Johnston said, “Even when injured, Krass had the foresight to put ‘direct to Balad’ in the flight management system prior to evacuating the co-pilot seat.”

Only when the aircraft landed were the crew and passengers aware of the extensive damage the aircraft sustained. Rounds hit the wing, tires, rudder and the main fuel line. A tracer round was responsible for starting a fire in the cabin that was undetected during flight.

In retrospect, Johnston said he feels fortunate to have had a flight surgeon as a crewmember that January day. He gives all the credit to the pilots: “Lee and Krass are of the highest caliber of individuals -- it was an honor to fly with them.”

Lt. Col. Patrick Weber, Operation Support Airlift Command commander, wrote, “With little regard for his personal safety, Johnston calmly assessed the situation and executed. His actions both in and out of the cockpit clearly aided in the safe return of this battle damaged aircraft.”

Johnston is a member of the Missouri National Guard’s Detachment 3, Company I, 1st of the 185th Aviation Regiment, located in Springfield.

Krass is a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard. He continues therapy and is expected to make a full recovery

Lee, a member of the Missouri Army National Guard’s 20th Combat Aviation Brigade located in Sedalia, remained in Iraq for the nine-month tour duration, and recovered from his injuries.

Krass and Lee received the Purple Heart.

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